December 2024

The Aquarium Scholars program puts smiles on the faces of students from across the state. They arrive by the busload, excited and happy to be at the beach.

Funded by donations to the nonprofit NC Aquarium Society, this program offers mini-grants to Title I eligible schools in North Carolina for educational experiences like field trips to the Aquariums or Pier, classroom outreach or virtual learning sessions.

Visiting seventh graders from Bear Grass Charter School were divided into three groups for educational activities: Pier Fishing, Solar Cars and Squid Dissection.

On the fishing pier, the seventh graders shared tidbits of their lives while waiting for the bite. From tiny bluefish to a big black drum, all three groups reeled in fish.

One boy said he usually fishes for “big mouth bass,” and another one targets catfish back home.

Briana Meeks caught and released a dogfish shark and seemed pleased. She mentioned some additional accomplishments

“I’ve been on the A, B Honor Roll twice,” Meeks said. “I also made one hundred prayer cloths and gave them away at ECU Hospital.”

Temperance Guthrie said she had a “double win” after she caught a fish and still had her bait.

Just down the way back near the pier house, you could hear shrieks of joy as another group raced their solar cars. That’s when one student had a revelation.

“Hey, we could use the squid from the dissection for bait!”

Fortunately, we already do.

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JENNETTE'S PIER